The citizens of "Earth City" were terrified throughout the night.

Although the officials warned repeatedly and even used intimidation, saying that there would be evil spirits causing chaos near the ruins of the Capital City, no one expected it to be so horrifying.

The sky turned dark, and ghostly wails echoed everywhere.

There were indeed ghostly cries; many people heard the terrifying sobs coming from corners of the streets that night, piercing and tragic.

Some even recognized the voices of their deceased relatives, crying out in fear...

No one dared to step outside, shivering under their covers. The earthquake-like tremors made the windows clatter and dust fell from the roof. It's said that several houses collapsed...

On the hillside outside Jade Flower Temple, Zhang Kui stood with his hands behind his back, his expression somewhat grim.

"I didn't expect that the effects would reach even this far..."

"Rest assured, young friend."

Elder Huayan stroked his beard and smiled, "Only a few houses collapsed, and fewer than a hundred were injured. I have already arranged for their treatment."

Next to him, Princess Li Qing also had a joyful expression, "Now that the ruins of the Capital City have been leveled, it's considered a good thing. At least there will be no more chaos, and the citizens can farm in peace."

Zhang Kui nodded slightly but remained silent.

He wasn't as optimistic.

Back when the Qian Dynasty was still around, although the seven State Preceptors were only at the Divine Travel Realm, they could still contend with the Mahayana Realm evil spirits thanks to the power of the National Guardian Divine Artifacts.

Zhang Kui used to feel dissatisfied, thinking the State Preceptors were too weak and often yielded, but now he understands their difficulties.

The Divine Corpse had long been out of control and could only be barely suppressed while hiding the truth to deter the Forbidden Land.

Though the National Guardian Divine Artifacts were advantageous, each use consumed their longevity. In a major battle, they might not defeat their opponent before exhausting themselves, not to mention they also needed to suppress the Divine Corpse.

More importantly, battles at the Mahayana Realm level were devastating, altering mountains and rivers in their passing. Ordinary people, frail as they were, couldn't withstand such upheaval.

Thinking of this, Zhang Kui squinted his eyes slightly. Perhaps, to minimize loss, they needed to bring the war to the enemy's territory...

However, this matter needed to be approached with extreme caution.

Just then, a man rode up to the hill, dismounted, and bowed:

"Guo Huai pays respects to the two True Men."

Indeed, it was the incredibly fortunate constable Guo Huai.

During the incident with the Vine Demon in Pingkang County, Qingzhou, this young constable narrowly escaped death. With a recommendation from Zhang Kui, he managed to get into the Ministry of Justice in the Capital City and apprenticed under the legendary constable "Zheng Quanyou."

When Haojing City was destroyed, he miraculously escaped, protected refugees, and fought against mountain evils, unexpectedly achieving Enlightenment and becoming a cultivator. He is now the leader of the new Astronomical Bureau in Earth City.

Regrettably, the fish-eyed constable Zheng Quanyou sacrificed himself to save people in the Imperial City.

In chaotic times, even those blessed by the heavens are like grass, yet some small figures, relying on fortune, tread different life paths. The fickleness of fate evokes deep emotion.

After experiencing life and death, Guo Huai became more steady. He cupped his fists and said in a grave tone, "After discussions with Lord Huang, I've trained a batch of men. Today, we're going to exterminate a Ghost Acupoint and have come to invite the two True Men to observe and advise."

Zhang Kui was interested,

"So soon? Perfect, there's nothing else to do; let's go take a look."

They were referring to old Huang.

After the Old Yellow Weasel Clan pledged loyalty, they needed a position, so they were incorporated into the Astronomical Bureau.

As Old Huang mentioned, their lineage had many who achieved enlightenment, and though there were few great achievers, they had other strengths, such as detecting evil spirits rapidly and sending messages over great distances, perfectly complimentary.

In the mountains near Earth City, Zhang Kui and the others stood on a hillside, looking down at a ravine filled with jagged rocks.

Guo Huai introduced, "Recently, many citizens have gone missing while logging. After investigation, I found this Ghost Acupoint here. It's suspected that pevious cultivators turned into evil spirits after death, gathering many fierce ghosts. Today, we'll exterminate them."

Everyone nodded and focused their attention.

A team of Black-clothed Profound Guards advanced swiftly through the woods toward the Ghost Acupoint, each holding a long bow with arrows wrapped in Evil-breaking Talismans, a small yellow weasel perched on their shoulders.

Whenever a fierce ghost hidden in the cracks or under old trees appeared, the small yellow weasel would spot it first, followed by the swift release of Evil-breaking Talisman arrows, dispersing the fierce ghost's soul before it could take form.

Their coordination became increasingly skilled, and they advanced rapidly without any casualties.

Soon, an evil spirit in a Taoist robe rolled out in an eerie wind, but before it could unleash its power, it was pinned by several Sealing Talisman Arrows, then turned into ashes by a round of Evil-breaking Talisman arrows.

Princess Li Qing's face lit up with joy,

"This is more flexible than the previous Astronomical Bureau. With this, Earth City becomes more stable, and more barren land can be cultivated next year."

Zhang Kui nodded repeatedly as he watched. No matter how fierce he was, he was just one person. In this land, the small ghosts and evil spirits propagated at will and still needed a multitude of low-level cultivators to clean them up.

The Earth City was already stable, with those three demon god puppets, it might be safer than other places, but he had to wait another day before he could leave.

The reason was simple, the Mid-Autumn had arrived...

...

On the half of the seventh month, the process of yin and yang rises and falls continuously.

In past years at this time, the citizens of Haojing City would always worship their ancestors, with incense filling the great and small temple halls, boat lanterns floating on the canal, and a bright moon carrying their grief.

Yet now, though the moonlight and breeze remained, all that was left was a flat wasteland of broken brick and shattered tiles, stretching endlessly.

Manzudia still wore a half-face veil, patiently waiting with her eyes closed, while a huge White Wolf lay nearby, eyes full of agitation.

Besides them, there were more than a dozen people, some in black robes with face coverings, others robust with small braids tied atop their heads, each exuding an imposing aura, carrying various sizes of packages on their backs.

These were all at the Celestial Tribulation Realm, warriors from nearly half of the Ghost Rong Kingdom's Golden Tent Royal Court. They had gone to gather supplies, leaving only White Wolf, known as General Bai, to protect Manzudia, but returned to find the place completely altered.

The Ghost Rong Kingdom had its own troubles. The Qian Dynasty's Astronomical Bureau still intervened somewhat, but their Shamanism had fully sided with the evil spirits in the Forbidden Land, completely disregarding the lives of the grassland creatures.

This time, the Golden Tent Royal Court staked everything, hoping to find something to stabilize national fortune like the Qian Dynasty did.

White Wolf took a glance at the bright moon in the sky and said irritably, "No more waiting. Being targeted by the evil spirits of the General's Tomb, those Qian traitors of the National Guardian are probably already scattered to the winds. We should have taken the map back no matter what."

"They won't carry the map with them."

Manzudia shook her head, "Forget it, even with only half the map, we must go. Let's begin."

"As you command, Princess."

A person in a black robe nodded, the bone beads on their body clinking, as they cautiously took out a faintly glowing Divine Strange Pearl from a sealed brocade box.

Though they had gathered considerable incense wish power, no Divine Spirit was born, but they had other methods.

The half tile map was taken out, the faintly glowing Divine Strange Pearl was placed upon it, and several black-robed figures began to wave their bone strings, chanting ancient sacrificial rites.

The Divine Strange Pearl vibrated with a hum, suddenly levitating and spinning rapidly, forming the center of a black fog-enshrouded circular space gate that slowly opened.

Whoosh~

An ominous wind suddenly swept across the land as laughter and shrieks seemed to emanate from within, yet when listening intently, nothing could be heard.

The Celestial Tribulation Realm warriors of the grassland took a deep breath, some eyes flashing with fear, as even a glance at this black fog gate felt like their hearts were being gripped fiercely.

Manzudia took a deep breath, her soul-stealing eyes full of determination, "Let's go!"

However, at that moment, three Celestial Tribulation Realm auras suddenly emerged, rapidly approaching them.

The group stood vigilant, and as the figures approached, they discovered it was the group of Yellow Eyebrow Monk. Besides him and Xiahou Ba, there was only a sickly-looking scholar left.

The trio appeared in a wretched state, Xiahou Ba's left arm missing from the shoulder, Yellow Eyebrow Old Monk with half his face reduced to a skull, it was unknown what secret skill kept them alive.

Their whereabouts had been discovered by the Left Vanguard, and even though they decisively threw out the Divine Strange Pearl to save themselves, only three survived, months of planning laid to waste.

"I have the map..."

Yellow Eyebrow Monk's voice had become hoarse and mournful, "Originally, I could give it to you, but after going in, we must make a copy and then go our separate ways!"

Manzudia's eyes were cold, "Agreed..."

After reaching an agreement, the people entered the black fog space gate one by one, which then suddenly contracted and vanished.

In the moonlight, Zhang Kui's figure slowly emerged.

He had used the Invisibility Skill to observe from the side, and these people, with cultivations far below his, naturally could not detect him.

Zhang Kui's expression was somewhat grave; though the moment had been brief, the aura from within had made his heart pound with alarm.

Most likely, these people would never be able to come out again.

Just now, Shen Xu also sent news that his clone lost contact after entering the Underworld, and Counselor Zuo was determined this time, planning to explore for a year before coming out.

It's likely that at this moment, in various Forbidden Lands of Central State, teleportation gates leading to the Underworld were already opening one by one.

The Underworld, in past lives known as the Ghost Realm, here represents immortality, the Immortal Path, power... innumerable schemes surround it, with countless beings risking everything to advance.

Zhang Kui stood silently for a long time, before suddenly soaring into the sky with a roar, riding his sword light through the moonlit sky, heading towards Lai State.

A year, was enough for him to accomplish many things...

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